Call It a Comeback

Saturday, November 7

Riverside, Calif.

1 PM

California Baptist University

Concordia

Team	1	2	3	Final F
Concordia (CA)	23	30	16	0
California Baptist	25	32	25	3

Photo by: Jacob Gonzalez

11/7/2015 3:41:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

By: Andrew Shortall, Asst. Sports Information Director

RIVERSIDE, Calif. – Facing a seven-point deficit and set point, most teams would have likely shifted their focus to the next game. California Baptist University, however, hunkered down and scrapped its way to a tie and eventual overtime victory to set the tone Saturday afternoon.

What was certainly the Lancers' craziest comeback of the 2015 season helped pave the way to a sweep of Concordia Saturday afternoon in the Van Dyne Gym, 25-23, 32-30, 25-16. CBU posted big advantages in blocks (15-4) and hitting percentage (.299 to .156) to lead it to the win.

"It was really important to get this win; after going on a losing streak, this was a real important way to get back in this," Kristin McCord said. "We had to show we aren't done with this season yet, we're coming for more."

The victory moves CBU to 18-6, 11-5 in the PacWest and into a second-place tie with BYU-Hawaii (13-11, 11-5) in the conference after the Seasiders slipped at Fresno Pacific. With four conference matches left, Dixie State (16-8, 13-3) remains two matches up in first place with a sweep of Point Loma Saturday.

Lauren Hackett led the Lancers' offense against Concordia with 17 kills on a .302 percentage (17-4-43) and a match-high five aces. Eight of those kills came in clutch moments, when at least one team had reached 20 points in a set.

Three CBU players – McCord, Tori Ortman and Nicci Hinderaker – put up 10 digs each. Five more had at least four blocks, with Jessica Harris and Abbie Gortsema putting up eight and seven, respectively. Hackett, Jordyn Siko (33 assists, five digs) and Jenna Perry (seven kills) each stuffed four shots at the net.

"The defense was great, balls were flying everywhere off the block and people were ready for the ball," McCord said. "You have to be balanced so you can go get balls you don't think are coming near you."

It appeared the Eagles were on their way to evening the match at a set apiece when they took a 24-17 lead in the second frame.

"We realized we had to focus and once we knew it could be over, we had to get back in it," McCord said. "We knew we were playing for the girl next to us and there was nothing to lose that game, so we went all out."

Hackett came alive for the Lancers and sparked an 8-0 run with three kills and a block assist. Harris added two more blocks and Ortman also had an ace to put CBU at set point, 25-24.

CUI was not going to let the Lancers get away that easy, staying alive with a kill. There were six ties, with each team holding set point on four occasions, from there. Two kills from Perry, one each from Hackett and Lauren Marr (eight kills) and a combo block set by Gortsema and Perry kept CBU alive when Concordia served with set point.

Down 30-29, Marr notched consecutive kills to give the Lancers their fourth shot at set point and a solo block from Gortsema converted it for the 32-30 victory and two-set lead.

"That was by far the craziest comeback this season," McCord said. "This one was on game point, and we showed our focus."

Concordia held a 19-17 lead in set one, as well, but three big plays put CBU back in front, 20-19. Marr sparked the run again with a kill and a McCord ace kept it going before a combo block from Gortsema and Siko ended it.

Another block formed by Gortsema and Hackett and two more kills from Hackett upped the Lancers' cushion to 23-21. CUI would bounce back and force a tie at 23 all, but Hackett gave CBU set point, 24-23, and an attack error sealed the Lancer victory.

In set three, the Lancers' serving led them to the sweep. They posted six aces in the set, with Hackett and Soleil Smith each posting two in the frame. CBU enjoyed a sideout percentage of 64 (11-17) en route to the 25-16 set win.

A 7-3 run turned a 7-7 tie into a 14-10 lead for CBU. The run came on three Hackett kills, one from Gortsema and a block from Siko and Harris. Consecutive aces from Hackett finished off a 3-0 charge that put the Lancers up 17-12. Smith's serving led CBU to a dagger 5-0 run and 22-13 lead, as she had both of her aces in that span, while a Perry kill and block contributed to the run, as well.

CBU hits the road again to visit Notre Dame de Namur, Academy of Art and Holy Names on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, respectively. The Lancers conclude the regular season at home against rival Azusa Pacific Nov. 21^st at 7 p.m.